South Korea’s birthrate has seen its first increase in nine years, fueled by a rise in marriages, which suggests a potential recovery from the country’s demographic crisis. The data from Statistics Korea indicates that the number of births per 1,000 people increased to 4.7 in 2024, the first rise since 2014. The average fertility rate also saw a modest increase to 0.75, up from 0.72 in 2023. Despite these positive indicators, the birthrate remains below the 2.1 level needed for population stabilization without significant immigration. The government, under the guidance of President Yoon Suk Yeol, has implemented substantial financial incentives and childcare support to combat the low birthrate, which has been exacerbated by factors such as the high cost of living, challenging job market, and women’s opposition to traditional gender roles. However, despite these efforts, the population as a whole continues to decline, with deaths surpassing births by 120,000 in the previous year. Authorities acknowledge that embracing more immigration could be a critical strategy in addressing the ongoing population decline.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/feb/26/south-korea-birthrate-rises-marriages-surge